TWI482371B - Connector capable of reducing occurrence of a contact failure - Google Patents

Description

Connector that reduces contact failure

The present application is based on and claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-188242, filed on Jan. 31, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a connector using a plate-like or sheet-like flexible connecting member.

There has hitherto been a plate-like or sheet-like connecting member such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC). This type of connecting member can be directly matched to a mating connecting member. In order to facilitate the engagement operation of a connecting member, as proposed in JP-A-H06-283236 (Patent Document 1), a clip is attached to one end of an FFC to end the FFC. The part remains in a bent state.

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be briefly explained with reference to Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, a clip 2 is attached to an FFC 1 to hold the end portion 1a of the FFC 1 in a state in which the end portion 1a is bent substantially at right angles. The clip 2 includes a first plate portion 2a, a second plate portion 2b, and left and right connecting curved portions 2c for connecting the first plate portion 2a and the second plate portion 2b to each other. The first plate portion 2a, the second plate portion 2b, and the connection bent portions 2c are integrally molded with each other. The FFC 1 is inserted into a hole defined between the left and right connecting bends 2c and sandwiched between the first plate portion 2a and the second plate portion 2b. The end portion 1a of the FFC 1 has a top member that is exposed from the clip 2. Therefore, the FFC 1 can be straightened by inserting the top piece of the end portion 1a into the one of the jacks 3a of the connector 3. It is matched with this connector 3.

However, Patent Document 1 does not pay attention to the bending point of the FFC. Therefore, the accuracy of the bending point of the FFC may be lowered. Accordingly, the length of the exposed portion of the FFC end may thus vary. Further, even if the FFC is flexible, it cannot be reliably bent into a right angle. Therefore, the unpredictable deformation of the FFC may be formed on a portion from the bending point to the top member of the FFC when the FFC is bent or mated with the connector. If the FFC is subjected to a change or deformation of its bending point, an effective contact length of the matched FFC is shortened, so that a contact failure condition may occur.

Furthermore, in certain situations, the top piece of the FFC may directly collide with the mating connector during the mating operation. In such a case, the FFC will be destroyed, resulting in a bad contact.

Accordingly, it is an exemplary object of the present invention to provide a connector that reduces contact failure even in the case where a flexible connection is used in connection with a mating connector.

Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description.

In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided that is to be coupled to a mating connector that is assembled to the mating connector in a first direction. The connector includes: a connecting member having a plate shape or a sheet shape and having flexibility; a base portion; and a cover body cooperating with the base portion to sandwich the connecting member from both sides of the connection construction. The connecting member includes: a first portion extending in the first direction to connect with the mating connector; and a second portion extending from the first side In a second direction of intersection; a curved portion between the first portion and the second portion; and an ear portion disposed on at least a portion of the first portion to increase the connecting member a third direction upwardly perpendicular to the second direction, and at least a portion of which abuts the bend; the cover includes an actuator that will face first during operation of the mating connector and the mating connector The direction is pressed against one of the edges of the ear.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 2A to 10B.

2A and 2B show an example of a plate-like or sheet-like flexible connecting member 10 used in a first embodiment implemented in accordance with the present invention. This connecting member 10 is composed of an FPC or an FFC. The connecting member 10 includes a plate-shaped first portion 11, a plate-shaped second portion 12, and a curved portion 13 bent between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12. The first portion 11 extends along a first direction (matching direction) A1, wherein the connector is mated and connected to a mating connector. The second portion 12 extends in a second direction (longitudinal direction) A2 perpendicular to the first direction A1. Specifically, the connecting member 10 is operated to form a right angle substantially by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12. As is apparent from the following description, the first portion 11 is related to the effective contact length of the connector. Therefore, the tolerance of the dimension L of the first direction A1 needs to be reduced.

The connecting member 10 includes a pair of ears 14 that are disposed on the first portion 11. These ear portions 14 increase the size of the connecting member 10 in the third direction (width direction) A3 perpendicular to the first direction A1 and the second direction A2. In Figures 2A and 2B, the ears 14 are approximately along the entire first portion 11 The connecting member 10 extends in the width direction. In addition to this, the ears 14 may be provided only on a portion of the first portion 11 adjacent to the curved portion 13. In other words, the ears 14 should be disposed on at least a portion of the first portion 11 adjacent to the curved portion 13.

Since the ears 14 for increasing the size of the connecting member 10 are disposed on at least a portion of the first portion 11 adjacent to the curved portion 13, the bent portion 13 can be used by bending the connecting member 10 while using the ears 14 as The base is formed. According to this, the accuracy of the bending point of the connecting member 10 (i.e., the accuracy of the position of the curved portion 13) can be increased to easily obtain an effective contact length. In particular, the tolerance of the dimension L along the first direction A1 can be easily reduced.

The connecting member 10 has a large number of signal conductors 15 which are exposed on the outer side surface of the first portion 11 (i.e., the left side surface of the first portion 11 in Fig. 2B). These signal conductors 15 will form contacts that contact the mating contacts when the connectors are mated with and mated with the mating connectors. These signal conductors 15 are arranged along the predetermined direction in the third direction A3. Further, the signal conductors 15 continuously extend from the first portion 11 through the curved portion 13 to the second portion 12.

Further, the connecting member 10 has a reinforcing plate 16 attached to one of the inner side surfaces of the first portion 11, which includes the ears 14. This reinforcing plate 16 has an insulating property. The reinforcing plate 16 is disposed at least close to one of the edges (free ends) 17 of the first portion 11, which is opposed to the second portion 12 in the first direction A1. Therefore, the top piece of the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10 is reinforced by the reinforcing plate 16 so that it is less likely to be bent. According to this, the first portion 11 does not deform even in the case where some external force is applied to the first portion 11.

The second portion 12 has a plurality of ground conductors 18 disposed on one of the inner side surfaces of the second portion 12, that is, on a lower surface of the second portion 12. In the 2A and 2B drawings, the second portion 12 is shown to have a defined size in the second direction A2. However, in practice, the second portion 12 can extend to the right longer in the 2B diagram.

3 shows a connector set including a socket connector 20 as a mating connector and a plug connector 30 as a connector before the connectors are connected to each other according to the first embodiment of the present invention. . Figure 4 shows the connector group when the connectors are being connected to each other. Figure 5 shows the situation after this connector group has been connected between the connectors.

The socket connector 20 is mounted on a circuit board 21 by a display. The receptacle connector 20 includes a receptacle connector housing 22 having an insulating property, a plurality of signal contacts 23 mounted on the receptacle connector housing 22, and one or more ground contacts 24. Signal contact 23 and ground contact 24 have conductive properties. The receptacle connector housing 22 has a mating slot 25 that extends along a third direction A3. Each of the signal contacts 23 has a signal contact 26. The signal contacts 26 of the signal contacts 23 are disposed above the matching slots 25 and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the third direction A3. Each of the ground contacts 24 has at least one ground contact 27 disposed below the matching slot 25.

The plug connector 30 includes the aforementioned connecting member 10, a base portion 31, and a cover 32. The base portion 31 and the lid body 32 cooperatively sandwich the connecting member 10 from both sides of the connecting member 10. The base 31 has a convex surface 33 that faces the curved portion 13 of the connecting member 10. The cover 32 has a concave surface 34 It faces the curved portion 13 of the connecting member 10. Therefore, the shape of the connecting member 10 is maintained by the base portion 31 having the convex surface 33 and the cover 32 having a concave surface 34.

The base portion 31 has a first accommodating portion 35 in the shape of a plate and a second accommodating portion 36 in the shape of a plate. The first housing portion 35 extends on one side of the convex surface 33 along the first direction A1 and the third direction A3. The second accommodating portion 36 extends on the other side of the convex surface 33 along the second direction A2 and the third direction A3. The first accommodating portion 35 faces the first portion 11 of the connection connecting member 10, and the second accommodating portion 36 faces the second portion 12 of the member 10. In other words, the connecting member 10 is mostly disposed on one side of the base 31. The base 31 has a conductive base grounding member 37 that is disposed on the other side of the base. The first accommodating portion 35 includes: a first protecting portion 38 for covering and protecting the edge 17 of the first portion 11 of the connecting connecting member 10; and a second protecting portion 39 for covering and protecting the base grounding member 37 One end.

The cover 32 has a first pressing portion 41 for pressing the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10 on one side of the concave surface 34, and a second pressing portion 42 for the concave surface The second portion 12 of the connecting member 10 is pressed on the other side of the 34. The first pressing portion 41 terminates at a position spaced apart from the first protecting portion 38 of the base portion 31. Therefore, the signal conductors 15 of the connecting member 10 are exposed outwardly between the first pressing portion 41 and the first protecting portion 38.

Accordingly, the plug connector 30 has a mating portion 43 formed by a portion of the connecting member 10, a portion of the base portion 31, and a portion of the base grounding member 37. The contact portions of the signal conductors 15 of the connecting member 10 are exposed in a state on the upper surface of one of the matching portions 43, and in this state, the contact portions are spaced apart from each other in the third direction A3 by a predetermined interval.

When the receptacle connector 20 is connected to the plug connector 30, the mating portion 43 is fitted into the mating slot 25. At this time, the contact portions of the signal conductors 15 are in contact with the signal contact portions 26 of the receptacle connector 20 in a one-to-one relationship. At the same time, the base grounding member 37 is in contact with the ground contact portions 27 of the receptacle connector 20. Thus, the plug connector 30 is electrically connected to the receptacle connector 20.

Since the first protecting portion 38 covering the top member of the connecting member 10 is disposed on the tip end of the matching portion 43, the damage of the connecting member 10 can be prevented during the mating operation. In order to smoothly insert the matching portion 43 between the signal contact portion 26 and the ground contact portions 27, one or both of the ends of the first protection portion 38 and the second protection portion 39 are preferably angled. Beveled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 31 has a pair of locking mechanisms 44 which are provided on both sides of the first housing portion 35 in the third direction A3. When the plug connector 30 is being connected to the receptacle connector 20, the locking mechanism 44 will be inserted into the mating slot 25 of the receptacle connector 20 along with the mating portion 43. The locking mechanisms 44 engage the receptacle connector housing 22 in a pawl manner in a first direction A1. As a result, the connection between the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 30 is locked. As shown in Fig. 3, it is preferable to form a plurality of operation holes 45 in the upper surface of one of the machine portions 31 so that the lock mechanisms 44 can be loosened.

Referring to Figures 6A through 9, a method for assembling the plug connector 30 will be described below in conjunction with the detailed structure of the plug connector 30.

In the first step of assembling the plug connector 30, the connecting member 10 and the machine portion 31 are prepared as shown in Fig. 6A. The base portion 31 has a pair of wall portions 46 which are disposed on both end portions of the base portion in the third direction A3. Each of the wall portions 46 has an ear guide 47 that is formed Close to the first housing portion 35, more specifically, outside the outer edge of one of the first housing portions 35. The ear guides 47 of the wall portions 46 are opposed to each other. Each of the ear guides 47 extends along the first direction A1. Each of the ear guides 47 is formed by a groove as shown in Fig. 6A. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6B, the connecting member 10 is installed between the wall portions 46. When the connecting member 10 is being mounted, the ears 14 of the connecting member 10 are inserted into the ear guides 47 of the base 31. Therefore, the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10 faces an outer side surface of the first receiving portion 35 of the base portion 31, and the second portion 12 of the connecting member 10 faces an upper surface of the second receiving portion 36 of the base portion 31. Further, the signal conductors 15 are exposed on the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10.

As can be seen from Figures 6B and 7, a pair of guide grooves 48 extending along the first direction A1 together with the ear guides 47 are formed in the wall portions 46 of the base portion 31 so as to be The three directions A3 can be opposite each other. A pair of cover attaching portions 49 are formed in the wall portions 46 of the base portion 31 adjacent to the guide grooves 48 so as to be opposite to each other in the third direction A3.

In the second step of assembling the plug connector 30, the cover 32 is prepared as shown in Fig. 8A. The cover body 32 has a plurality of guiding protrusions 51 and a plurality of engaging portions 52 which are provided on both end portions of the cover body 32 in the third direction A3. As shown in FIG. 8B, the cover 32 is disposed between the wall portions 46. When the cover 32 is being installed, the guide projections 51 of the cover 32 are inserted into the guide grooves 48 of the base 31. The guiding projections 51 are slid in the guiding grooves 48 in the first direction A1 such that the guiding grooves 48 can guide the guiding projections 51 to mount the cover 32. The guiding projections 51 and the guiding grooves 48 are combined as a guiding mechanism.

When the cover 32 is fitted into the base 31 until the cover 32 comes into contact with the connecting member 10, the engaging portions 52 are engaged with the cover attaching portions 49 of the base 31 in the first direction A1. Therefore, the detachment of the cover 32 from the base 31 can be avoided.

As shown in Fig. 9, an actuating portion 53 is provided on one end of each of the guiding projections 51. When the assembly of the plug connector 30 has been completed, the actuating portion 53 is disposed at one end of the ear guide 47 in the first direction A1. As a result, the actuating portion 53 abuts against an edge of the ear portion 14 of the connecting member 10 in the first direction A1. Thus, the ends of the cover 32 will push the ears 14 of the connecting member 10 during the mating so that forces can be applied directly to the connecting member 10 in the mating direction. According to this, it is possible to prevent a contact failure due to deformation of the top member of the connecting member 10.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the base grounding member 37 has a spring 54 extending through the base portion 31. The spring 54 is held in contact with the ground conductors 18 of the connecting member 10 under compression. As a result, the spring 54 presses the second portion 12 of the connecting member 10 against the second pressing portion 42 of the cover 32. Therefore, the second portion 12 of the connecting member 10 abuts against the second pressing portion 42 of the cover 32. The second portion 12 of the connecting member 10 can be held in contact with the second receiving portion 36 of the base portion 31, or can be spaced apart from the second receiving portion 36 in a floating manner, which will depend on manufacturing tolerances or the like.

At this time, the spring 54 is disposed on one side of the cover attaching portion 49 of the base portion 31 (see FIGS. 6A to 8A), which is opposed to the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10 in the second direction A2. . In other words, the cover attaching portions 49 are disposed between the first portion 11 and the spring 54. As a result, when the connecting member 10 is pressed by the spring 54, a moment is generated around the cover attaching portions 49. The connecting member 10, in particular the first portion 11, is pressed against the outer side surface of the first receiving groove 35 of the base portion 31 by this moment. Therefore, the first portion 11, in particular the top piece of the first portion 11, is held against the base portion 31. According to this, it is possible to prevent the first portion 11 from being deformed by an external force when the connectors are mated and connected to each other. Therefore, a situation of poor contact is unlikely to occur.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. Portions of the drawings 2A to 10B which have the same functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the parts will be omitted hereinafter.

Figure 11 shows a connector set implemented in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention including a socket connector 60 as a mating connector and a plug connector as a connector before the connectors have been connected to each other. 70. Figure 12 shows a portion of the internal structure of the connector set shown in Figure 11 when the connection of the connector set has been completed. Figure 13 shows another portion of the internal structure of the connector set shown in Figure 11 when the connection of the connector set has been completed.

In the receptacle connector 60 of this connector set, the signal contacts 26 of the signal contacts 23 are disposed below the mating slots 25 and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance along the third direction A3. At the same time, each of the ground contacts 24 has at least one ground contact 27 disposed above the matching slot 25. Therefore, the positional relationship between the signal contact portion 26 of the receptacle connector 60 and the ground contact portion 27 is vertically reversed with the above-described receptacle connector 20. Accordingly, the plug connector 70 has been modified by the plug connector 30 described above to mate with the receptacle connector 60.

Referring to Figures 14A through 17, some of the plug connectors 30 are based on the above. Modifications will be made primarily by the same method for assembling the plug connector 70. The unillustrated portion has the same configuration and function as the plug connector 30 described above.

In the first step of assembling the plug connector 70, a connecting member 10a and a base portion 31a are prepared as shown in Fig. 14A.

The connecting member 10a is different from the connecting member 10 shown in Figs. 2A and 2B in that, in particular, a large number of signal conductors 15 are exposed on an inner side surface of the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10a, which corresponds to The right side surface of the first portion 11 shown in Fig. 2B. These signal conductors 15 form a plurality of contacts which will be in contact with the mating contacts when the connecting member 10a is mated and connected to the mating connector.

A reinforcing plate (not shown) having the same function and shape as the reinforcing plate 16 shown in FIG. 2B is attached to the outer surface of the first portion 11 and the ears 14, which corresponds to the second drawing. The left side surface of the first portion 11 is shown. This reinforcing plate has an insulating property. Therefore, a top piece of the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10a is reinforced by the reinforcing plate so that it will be less likely to be bent. According to this, the first portion 11 does not deform even in the case where some external force is applied to the first portion 11.

The connecting member 10a has the same configuration as the connecting member 10 shown in Fig. 2 in that the signal conductors 15 are arranged along the third direction A3 at a predetermined distance. The signal conductors 15 continuously extend from the first portion 11 through the curved portion 13 to the second portion 12.

Further, the ears 14 for increasing the size of the connecting member 10a are disposed on a portion of the first portion 11 which is located adjacent to the curved portion 13. Therefore, the bent portion 13 can simultaneously use the ears by bending the connecting member 10a 14 is configured as a base. According to this, the accuracy of the bending point of the connecting member 10a (i.e., the accuracy of the position of the curved portion 13) can be increased to easily obtain an effective contact length.

At the same time, a pair of ear guides 47 are formed in one of the pair of base portions 31a in the wall portion 46 (see Fig. 15). The ear guides 47 extend along the first direction A1 on one of the inner side surfaces 81 of the first receiving portion 35. Further, a slit 82 is formed between the first housing portion 35 and the second housing portion 36. The slits 82 extend along the third direction A3 to connect the ear guides 47 to each other.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 14B, the connecting member 10a is installed between the wall portions 46. When the connecting member 10a is being installed, the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10a is inserted into the slit 82 (see Fig. 15), and the ears 14 of the connecting member 10a are inserted into the ears of the base 31a. In item 47. Therefore, the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10a faces the inner side surface 81 of the first housing portion 35 of the base portion 31a, and the second portion 12 of the connecting member 10a faces the upper surface of the second housing portion 36 of the base portion 31a. Further, the signal conductors 15 are exposed on the first portion 11 of the connecting member 10a.

As shown in Fig. 14B, each of the wall portions 46 of the base portion 31a has a guiding groove 83 extending along the second direction A2, and a cover body formed in the guiding groove 83. Attachment 84. The guide grooves 83 of the wall portions 46 are opposed to each other in the third direction A3. The cover attaching portions 84 of the wall portions 46 are opposed to each other in the third direction A3.

In the second step of assembling the plug connector 70, the cover 32a is prepared as shown in Fig. 16A. The cover body 32a has a plurality of guiding protrusions 85 and a plurality of engaging portions 86 which are disposed on the cover body 32a in the third direction A3. On the end. The lid body 32a is moved along the second portion 12 of the connecting member 10a in the second direction A2 and inserted between the wall portions 46. When the cover body 32a is being installed, the guide projections 85 of the cover body 32a are inserted into the guide grooves 83 of the base portion 31. The guiding projections 85 are slid in the second direction A2 such that the guiding grooves 83 can guide the guiding projections 85 to mount the cover 32a. The guiding projections 85 and the guiding grooves 83 are combined as a guiding mechanism.

When the cover 32a is mounted in a predetermined position, the engaging portions 86 are engaged with the cover attaching portions 84 in the second direction A2. Therefore, the detachment of the lid body 32a from the base portion 31a can be avoided.

As shown in Fig. 17, an actuating portion 100 is provided on one end of each of the guiding projections 85. When the assembly of the plug connector 70 has been completed, the actuating portion 86 is disposed at one end of the ear guide 47 in the first direction A1. As a result, the actuating portion 100 abuts against an edge of the ear portion 14 of the connecting member 10a in the first direction A1. Therefore, both end portions of the cover body 32a will push the ears 14 of the connecting member 10a during the fitting so that the force can be directly applied to the connecting member 10a toward the matching direction. According to this, it is possible to prevent a contact failure due to deformation of the top member of the connecting member 10a.

Further, as shown in Fig. 18, a first protecting portion 38 for covering one end of the base grounding member 37 and the connecting member 10a is provided at one end of the matching portion 43. Therefore, the base grounding member 37 and the connecting member 10a can be prevented from being damaged during the mating process. It is a matter of course that the top surfaces of the first protection portions 38 are preferably chamfered to insert the matching portion 43 smoothly between the signal contact portions 26 and the ground contact portions 27.

Further, it is preferable to provide the cover body 32a as a spring having the same function as the spring 54 described in the first embodiment of the present invention. This spring provides A moment is applied to the connecting member 10a. The connecting member 10a, in particular the first portion 11, is pressed against the base grounding member 37 by this moment. In this case, the first portion 11, in particular the top piece of the first portion 11, is held against the base grounding member 37. According to this, it is possible to prevent the first portion 11 from being deformed by an external force when the connectors are being mated and connected to each other. Therefore, a situation of poor contact is unlikely to occur.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and some or all of them may be described as supplementary notes below, but are not limited to the supplementary notes.

(Supplementary Note 1)

A connector 30, 70 to be coupled to the mating connector by being assembled to a mating connector 20, 60 in a first direction A1, the connector comprising: a connecting member 10, 10a a plate or sheet having flexibility; a base 31, 31a; and a cover 32, 32a cooperating with the base to clamp the connecting member from both sides of the connecting member; the connecting member includes a first portion 11 extending in the first direction for connection with the mating connector; a second portion 12 extending in a second direction A2 intersecting the first direction; a curved portion 13 Between the first portion and the second portion; and an ear portion 14 disposed on at least a portion of the first portion, In order to increase the dimension of the connecting member in a third direction A3 perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the at least one portion abuts the curved portion; the cover includes an actuating portion 53, 100 One of the edges of the ear will be pressed in the first direction during operation of engaging the connector with the mating connector.

With this connector, an effective contact length can be ensured by bending the connecting member and simultaneously using the ear as a base. Therefore, the occurrence of poor contact can be reduced. Furthermore, the first portion of the connecting member can be easily assembled to the mating connector during the mating operation because the actuating portion disposed on the cover abuts against one of the edges of the ear.

Further, a protective portion covering the top member of the connecting member may be disposed on one of the top end portions of the matching portion.

With this protection portion, it is possible to prevent the connecting member from directly colliding with the mating connector.

(Supplementary Note 2)

The connector of supplementary note 1, further comprising a spring 54 for pressing the second portion against the cover.

(Supplementary Note 3)

A connector according to supplementary note 2, wherein the base and the cover are connected to each other at a position between the first portion and the spring.

(Supplementary Note 4)

A connector according to supplementary note 2 or 3, wherein: the base comprises a conductive base grounding member; The spring is disposed on the base grounding member.

(Supplementary Note 5)

A connector according to supplementary note 2-4, wherein: the second portion includes a ground conductor 18 that is opposite the base in the first direction; and the spring is held in contact with the ground conductor under pressure .

(Supplementary Note 6)

A connector according to any one of supplementary notes 1-5, further comprising a reinforcing plate 16 attached to at least a portion of the first portion, the at least one portion being in the first direction The opposite side of the second portion is near the edge of the first portion.

(Supplementary Note 7)

The connector of any one of supplementary notes 1-6, wherein: the base portion includes a receiving portion 35 facing the first portion; and the receiving portion includes a protecting portion 38 covering the first portion at the first portion One of the free ends in one direction.

Therefore, when the protecting portion covering one of the top members of the connecting member is disposed on the top end of one of the mating connectors, the connecting member can be prevented from directly colliding with the mating connector.

(Supplementary Note 8)

The connector of supplementary note 7, wherein the connecting member includes a signal conductor 15 extending continuously over the first portion, the curved portion, and the second portion, and the signal conductor includes a contact portion Exposed to the protection portion and the cover body, and the connectors are in contact with the mating connector when the connectors are mated and connected to each other.

(Supplementary Note 9)

The connector of any one of supplementary notes 1-8, wherein: the base includes an ear guide 47 extending along the first direction for receiving the ear; and the actuation portion is located One end of the ear guide.

(Supplementary Note 10)

A connector according to supplementary note 9, wherein: the base includes a cover attaching portion 49, 84 for attaching the cover; and the cover attaching portion is located at the first portion and the spring between.

(Supplementary Note 11)

A connector according to Supplementary Note 9 or 10, further comprising a guiding mechanism 48, 51 for guiding the cover relative to the base in the first direction, wherein the cover includes an engaging portion 52 And for engaging the cover attaching portion in the first direction to prevent the cover from being separated from the base.

(Supplementary Note 12)

A connector according to Supplementary Note 9 or 10, further comprising a guiding mechanism 83, 85 for guiding the cover relative to the base in the second direction, wherein the cover includes an engaging portion 86 And for engaging the cover attaching portion in the second direction to prevent the cover from being separated from the base.

(Supplementary Note 13)

The connector of any one of supplementary notes 1-12, wherein the base includes a locking mechanism 44 disposed at the base in the third direction Both ends are configured to mechanically lock the connection with the mating connector.

Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a few exemplary embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that various changes in the shapes and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Connecting components

10a‧‧‧Connecting components

11‧‧‧ first

12‧‧‧ second

13‧‧‧Bend

14‧‧‧ Ears

15‧‧‧Signal conductor

16‧‧‧ Strengthening board

17‧‧‧Edge/Free end

18‧‧‧ Grounding conductor

20‧‧‧ socket connector

21‧‧‧ boards

22‧‧‧Socket connector housing

23‧‧‧Signal contacts

24‧‧‧Ground contact

25‧‧‧ matching slot

26‧‧‧Signal contact

27‧‧‧Ground contact

30‧‧‧ plug connector

31‧‧‧ base

31a‧‧‧ base

32‧‧‧ Cover

32a‧‧‧ cover

33‧‧‧ protruding surface

34‧‧‧ concave surface

35‧‧‧First Storage Department

36‧‧‧Second Storage Department

37‧‧‧Base grounding parts

38‧‧‧First Protection Department

39‧‧‧Second Ministry of Protection

41‧‧‧First press

42‧‧‧Second press

43‧‧‧ Matching Department

44‧‧‧Locking mechanism

45‧‧‧Operation hole

46‧‧‧ wall

47‧‧‧ Ear guides

48‧‧‧ guiding slot

49‧‧‧ Cover Assembly

51‧‧‧ Guided projection

52‧‧‧ joints

53‧‧‧Activity Department

54‧‧‧ Spring

60‧‧‧ socket connector

70‧‧‧ plug connector

81‧‧‧ inside surface

82‧‧‧Slit hole

83‧‧‧ guiding slot

84‧‧‧ Cover Assembly

85‧‧‧Guided projection

86‧‧‧ joints

100‧‧‧Acoustic Department

A1‧‧‧ first direction

A2‧‧‧ second direction

A3‧‧‧ third direction

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a technique disclosed in JP-A 6-283236 (Patent Document 1).

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing an example of a plate-like or sheet-like flexible connecting member.

Fig. 2B is a side view of the connecting member shown in Fig. 2A.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a connector set including a plug connector and a receptacle connector before the component connectors are connected to each other.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connectors of the connector group shown in Fig. 3 when they are connected to each other, and a part thereof is shown in cross section.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the connector group shown in Fig. 3 when it is connected.

6A and 6B are perspective views showing the first step of assembling the plug connector of the connector set shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing a portion shown in Fig. 6A as viewed from another angle.

8A and 8B are perspective views illustrating a second step of assembling the plug connector of the connector set shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a section taken along line IX-IX of Figure 8B.

Figure 10A is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of Figure 8B.

Fig. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of a section taken along line X-X of Fig. 8B.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a connector set including a plug connector and a receptacle connector before the component connectors are connected to each other.

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a section showing a portion of the internal structure of the connector set shown in Figure 11 when its connection has been completed.

Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a cross section showing another portion of the internal structure of the connector set shown in Figure 11 when its connection has been completed.

Figs. 14A and 14B are perspective views showing the first step of assembling the plug connector of the connector set shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing a portion shown in Fig. 14A as viewed from another angle.

16A and 16B are perspective views illustrating a second step of assembling the plug connector of the connector set shown in Fig. 11.

Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view of a section taken along line XVII-XVII of Figure 16B.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 16B.

10‧‧‧Connecting components

11‧‧‧ first

12‧‧‧ second

13‧‧‧Bend

14‧‧‧ Ears

15‧‧‧Signal conductor

A1‧‧‧ first direction

A2‧‧‧ second direction

A3‧‧‧ third direction

Claims (11)

A connector to be coupled to the mating connector by being assembled to a mating connector in a first direction, the connector comprising: a connecting member having a plate or a sheet shape and having Flexible; a base; and a cover that cooperates with the base to clamp the connecting member from both sides of the connecting member; the connecting member includes: a first portion extending in the first direction so as to Connected to the mating connector; a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a curved portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion; and an ear a portion disposed on at least a portion of the first portion to increase a dimension of the connecting member in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the at least one portion abutting the curved portion; The cover includes an actuator that presses an edge of the ear in the first direction during operation of engaging the connector with the mating connector. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a spring for pressing the second portion toward the cover. The connector of claim 2, wherein: the base comprises a conductive base grounding member; The spring is disposed on the base grounding member. The connector of claim 2, wherein: the second portion includes a ground conductor that is opposite the base in the first direction; and the spring is held in compression with the ground conductor contact. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing plate attached to at least a portion of the first portion, the at least one portion being in the first direction at the second portion Near the edge of the first portion on the opposite side. The connector of claim 1, wherein: the base includes a first receiving portion facing the first portion; and the first receiving portion includes a first protecting portion covering the first portion One of the free ends in the first direction. The connector of claim 1, wherein: the base includes an ear guide extending along the first direction to receive the ear; and the actuation portion is located at the ear guide One of the pieces is on the end. The connector of claim 7, further comprising a spring for pressing the second portion toward the cover, wherein the base includes a cover attachment portion for attaching the cover And the cover attachment portion is located between the first portion and the spring. The connector of claim 8, further comprising a guiding mechanism for guiding the cover body relative to the base in the first direction, wherein the cover body comprises a joint portion for use In the first direction The upper cover is engaged with the cover attaching portion to prevent the cover from being separated from the base. The connector of claim 8 , further comprising a guiding mechanism for guiding the cover body relative to the base in the second direction, wherein the cover body comprises a joint portion for And engaging the cover attaching portion in the second direction to prevent the cover from being separated from the base. The connector of claim 1, wherein the base includes a locking mechanism disposed on both ends of the base in the third direction to mechanically lock a connection with the mating connector.